Shoe Cover System With Internal Cushioning Member

ABSTRACT

A shoe cover system includes a flexible shoe cover that is configured to substantially surround a shoe of a user of the shoe cover system. A resilient cushioning member inside the shoe cover is non-removably attached to the interior bottom of the shoe cover to receive and support the bottom of the user&#39;s shoe. Over-molding the resilient cushioning member to the interior bottom of the shoe cover may provide a permanent and direct attachment of the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover. An adhesive layer between the resilient cushioning member and the interior bottom of the shoe cover may provide a permanent and indirect attachment of the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.

BACKGROUND

The disclosures herein relate generally to shoe apparatus, and more particularly to a shoe cover system that covers and cushions a shoe. In many situations it is desirable that dirt and other contaminants on a user's shoes not be transferred to the environment. Clean rooms and hospitals are examples of environments where dirt and contaminants are undesirable. In contrast, other scenarios exist wherein it is desirable that contaminants from the environment do not reach the user's shoes. In either case, it is desirable that the user of the shoe cover system be as comfortable as possible while standing in shoes for an extended period of time.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a shoe cover system includes a flexible shoe cover exhibiting a first geometry suitable to substantially surround a shoe. The shoe cover system also includes a resilient cushioning member situated inside the shoe cover and exhibiting a second geometry suitable to contact and support a bottom of the shoe, the resilient cushioning member being non-removably attached to the interior of the flexible shoe cover. In one embodiment, the resilient cushioning member is molded to an interior bottom of the shoe cover to permanently and directly attach the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover. In another embodiment, the resilient cushioning member is adhesively attached to an interior bottom of the shoe cover to indirectly attach and hold the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore do not limit its scope because the inventive concepts lend themselves to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed shoe cover system.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the shoe cover system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a mandrel that may be used to fabricate the disclosed shoe cover system.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the disclosed shoe cover system shown inside-out and situated over the mandrel.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system of FIG. 4 shown with a mold for installing a resilient cushioning member in the shoe cover system.

FIG. 5B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 5A with cushioning material injected into the mold.

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view showing the shoe cover system with the mold removed.

FIG. 5D is a side plan view of the shoe cover system with the shoe cover system removed from the mandrel.

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system in the right-side-out orientation.

FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system showing a shoe within the shoe cover.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover system showing an adhesive layer for use in bonding to the cushioning member.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional of the shoe cover system of FIG. 6A with the cushioning member installed on the adhesive layer.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the shoe cover system showing an anti-trip feature installed in the shoe cover system while the shoe cover system is on the mandrel.

FIG. 7B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7A after removal of the shoe cover system from the mandrel.

FIG. 7C shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7B after orienting the shoe cover system right-side-out.

FIG. 7D shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7C after the user places his or her foot and shoe in the shoe cover system.

FIG. 8A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover system wherein the cushioning member include multiple layers that each exhibit a different durometer.

FIG. 8B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 8A after the user places his or her foot with shoe in the shoe cover system.

FIG. 9A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover system wherein the cushioning member exhibits multiple layers with different durometers and further including a non-trip feature.

FIG. 9B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 9A after orienting the shoe cover system right-side-out.

FIG. 9C shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 9B after the user places his or her foot with shoe in the shoe cover system.

FIG. 10A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover system wherein the cushioning member is sewn to the bottom of the shoe cover of the shoe cover system.

FIG. 10B shows a bottom view of the cushioning member of FIG. 10A with the stitching visible that holds the cushioning member to the bottom of the shoe cover of the shoe cover system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, the disclosed shoe cover system includes a shoe cover that substantially surrounds a user's shoe and further includes a resilient cushioning member that is permanently attached to the interior of the shoe cover. The resilient cushioning member receives the user's shoe and acts as a cushion to reduce fatigue when the user stands for prolonged periods of time while using the disclosed shoe cover system. In different embodiments, the resilient cushioning member may be attached to the interior of the shoe cover via an adhesive layer, by over-molding the cushioning member to the interior of the shoe cover, or by flame bonding the cushioning member to the interior of the shoe cover.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the disclosed shoe cover system as system 100. Shoe cover system 100 includes a flexible shoe cover 105 that substantially surrounds a user's shoe 110 which is depicted in dashed lines. Shoe cover system 100 further includes a resilient cushioning member 115 that is interior to shoe cover 105 and non-removably, i.e. permanently, attached thereto. As seen in FIG. 1, resilient cushioning member 115 is situated at the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 to receive shoe 110 thereon and thus provide comfort to the user. In one embodiment, an elastic band 125 adjacent an upper portion 130 of shoe cover 105 assists in holding shoe cover system 100 to the foot and/or leg of the user. The user inserts his or her foot and shoe through a ring-like aperture 132 located at upper portion 130 to install the shoe cover system 100. In an alternative embodiment, a shoe lace type arrangement (not shown) may be used to hold shoe cover system 100 to the user's foot and/or leg.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the shoe cover system 100 of FIG. 1 taken at a section line 2-2 running along the lengthwise major axis thereof. Shoe 110 includes a main body 205 attached to the sole 210, wherein main body 205 receives the user's foot in the conventional fashion. A heel member 215 attaches to the rearward portion of sole 210 in the conventional fashion. In one embodiment, a lower adhesive layer 220 permanently attaches resilient cushioning member 115 to the portion of shoe cover 105 at the bottom 120 thereof. This lower adhesive layer 220 may extend substantially from side to side and end to end of shoe cover 105 at bottom 120.

As seen in FIG. 3, to fabricate shoe cover system 100 one method is to employ a mandrel 300 that is shaped in the general form of shoe cover system 100. In one embodiment, mandrel 300 may be generally shoe-shaped or boot-shaped depending on the shoe cover desired. For example, mandrel 300 may be shaped in the general form of a shoe and a portion of the user's ankle such as shown in FIG. 3. Mandrel 300 may be mounted to a base 305 by a support member 310 such that mandrel 300 is held upright during fabrication of shoe cover system 100.

In one embodiment, shoe cover 105 is formed to be generally shoe-shaped or boot-shaped such that its dimensions permit the user to place his or her shoe into the shoe cover 105 such as seen in FIG. 1. To permanently attach resilient cushioning member 115 to cover 105, shoe cover 105 may be turned inside-out and placed over mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 4. Mandrel 300 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5A, an injection mold 505 is fitted over the bottom 120 of the inverted and inside-out shoe cover 105. Injection mold 505 includes an opening 510 through which material may be injected to form cushioning member 115 within the mold. When injection mold 505 is fitted on shoe cover 105/mandrel 300, a mold cavity 515 is formed. Mold cavity 515 is configured in the particular shape desired for resilient cushioning member 115. For example, in one embodiment mold cavity 515 may exhibit a geometry that is sufficiently long, sufficiently wide, and sufficiently thick to form a cushioning member 115 suitable for supporting the user's shoe 110.

To form cushioning member 115, a resilient material such as an open cell foam (e.g. polyurethane, polyethylene) is injected into opening 510 as indicated by arrow 520 to substantially fill mold cavity 515 as seen in FIG. 5B. The resilient material cures to form cushioning member 115. The mold 505 is removed from shoe cover 105 and the portion of flexible material that formed in mold opening 510 is cut or otherwise removed from cushioning member 115. In this manner, cushioning member 115 is non-removably over-molded to shoe cover 105, thus resulting in the structure shown in FIG. 5C. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly thus formed is removed from mandrel 300, as shown in FIG. 5D. As viewed in FIG. 5D, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is still inside-out. After removal from the mandrel 300, the shoe cover/cushioning member is turned right-side out, as shown in FIG. 5E to complete the manufacture of one embodiment of shoe cover system 100. Shoe cover system 100 is now ready for wearing by the user. FIG. 5F shows the completed shoe cover system 100 with a shoe 110 inside the shoe cover system. The above-described over-molding method is a direct attachment method because cushioning member 115 is directly attached to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. Alternatively, instead of the injection molding method described above, a casting method may be employed to form cushioning member 115 on bottom 120.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an alternative assembly method. In this alternative assembly method, resilient cushioning member 115 may be non-removably attached, i.e. permanently attached, to shoe cover 105 at bottom 120 by lower adhesive layer 220 which is situated between resilient cushioning member 115 and the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. This is an indirect attachment method. In this approach, the same steps as employed in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used so that shoe cover 105 is oriented inside-out on mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 4. Lower adhesive layer 220 is applied to bottom 120 as shown in FIG. 6A. A pre-formed resilient cushioning member 115 is positioned on lower adhesive layer 220 as shown in FIG. 6B. Preformed resilient cushioning member may exhibit a generally foot-like geometry suitable for supporting the user's foot, such as shown in FIG. 10B. Returning to FIG. 6B, lower adhesive layer 220 holds the preformed resilient cushioning member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly is removed from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out so that the shoe cover system 100 is ready for use. The above-described adhesive method is an indirect attachment method because resilient cushioning member 115 is indirectly attached to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 via an intervening layer, namely adhesive layer 220.

In another alternative embodiment, as opposed to cushion member 115 being adhesively attached to shoe cover 105, cushion member 115 may be permanently attached to shoe cover 105 by flame bonding. In this approach, the same steps as employed in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be employed so that shoe cover 105 is oriented inside-out on mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 4. A preformed cushioning member 115 is fabricated from resilient material such as polyethylene or other polymer that is capable of having its surface liquefied by flame for bonding to shoe cover 105. Shoe cover 105 may be fabricated from fabric, vinyl or other flexible material that is suitable for bonding via flame bonding. In this method, one of the opposed major surfaces of foam resilient cushioning member 115 is passed by a flame to create a thin layer of molten polymer, i.e. liquefied polymer. The liquefied major surface of the resilient cushioning member 115 is pressed against the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. Resilient cushioning member 115 is allowed to cool. A bond is thus formed between resilient cushioning member 115 and the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. The resultant flame-bonded shoe cover/cushioning member assembly appears substantially the same as illustrated in FIG. 5C where resilient cushioning member 115 is directly attached to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. The shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is removed from mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 5D. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly is turned right-side-out as shown in FIG. 5E so that the shoe cover system 100 is ready for use.

In each of the above described direct and indirect attachment methods for attaching resilient cushioning member 115 to shoe cover 105, resilient cushioning member 115 may be further outfitted with an upper adhesive layer covered by a release liner, as depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D. The purpose of this arrangement is to help prevent the shoe cover 105 from sagging away from below the user's shoe as the user walks. This arrangement may decrease the likelihood of tripping, thus providing an anti-trip feature. In one embodiment, the same steps used to position shoe cover 105 on mandrel 300 may be employed as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Subsequently, the same steps used to indirectly attach resilient cushioning member 115 to shoe cover bottom 120 via adhesive layer 220 may be employed, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B. Alternatively, over-molding or flame bonding may be used to directly attach resilient cushioning member 115 to shoe cover bottom 120 if desired. However, for purposes of this particular example, cushioning member 115 is indirectly attached to shoe cover bottom 120 as shown in FIG. 6B.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, upper adhesive layer 705 with release liner 710 thereon is applied to resilient cushioning member 115 while resilient cushioning member 115 and shoe cover 105 are still mounted on mandrel 300. Note that, in one embodiment, forming the structure of FIG. 7A may commence after the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly of FIG. 6B is formed. It is also noted that the shoe cover system depicted in FIG. 7A is still inside-out. As shown in FIG. 7B, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is removed from mandrel 300. As shown in FIG. 7C, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is turned right-side-out so that the resultant shoe cover system 100′ is ready for use. The user may remove release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 by peeling away release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 prior to inserting the user's foot into shoe cover system 100′, as shown in FIG. 7D. Release liner 710 may include one or more pull tabs along the edges of release liner 710 to assist the user in removing the release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 in preparation for use of the shoe cover system. With the upper adhesive layer 705 thus exposed, the bottom of shoe 110 will adhere to upper adhesive layer 705 when the user inserts the user's foot into the shoe cover system. In this manner, resilient cushioning member 115 will stick to the bottom of the user's shoe so that resilient cushioning member 115 and/or shoe cover 105 does not sag away from the bottom of the user's shoe as the user walks while using the shoe cover system. In one embodiment, adhesive layer 705 is made of low tack adhesive such that the bottom of the user's shoe does not permanently bond to the shoe cover system. Adhesive layer 705 exhibits sufficient tackiness, i.e. stickiness, that the user's shoe sticks to cushioning member 115 during use, but is still removable from resilient cushioning member 115 when the user takes off the shoe cover system. In one embodiment, adhesive layer 705 need not cover the entire surface of resilient cushioning member 115 as long as adhesive layer 705 is present in the heel area of the cushioning member and the toe area of the cushioning member. For example, as seen in FIG. 7D, adhesive layer 705 include a heel portion 715, a toe portion 720 and a remaining portion 725 between heel portion 715 and toe portion 720. In this particular embodiment, heel portion 715 and toe portion 720 exhibit higher stickiness than the remaining portion 725. Alternatively, the adhesive need not be present in the remaining portion 725.

In another embodiment, shoe cover 105 may be fabricated from a stretch fabric such as a two-way stretch fabric or a four-way stretch fabric (e.g. a spandex fabric). In this manner, shoe cover 105 stretches when the user places his or her foot into the shoe cover to more snugly hold the shoe cover system to the user's shoe.

In yet another alternative embodiment, resilient cushioning member 115 may be formed of multiple layers of resilient material wherein each layer exhibits a different durometer. In the embodiments discussed above, resilient cushioning member 115 may include sandwiched layers 115A and 115B, wherein each layer exhibits a different durometer, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. In other words, each layer of cushioning member 115 exhibits a different degree or hardness, or conversely, each layer exhibits a different degree of softness to the user. For example, layer 115A may be fabricated from gel which exhibits a durometer different from the durometer of layer 115B that may be fabricated from foam. To actually form such a shoe cover system wherein the layers of cushioning member 115 exhibit different durometers, a preformed cushioning member 115 may be provided prior to installation in the shoe cover system. Preformed cushioning member 115 may include both layer 115A that exhibits one durometer and layer 115B that exhibits another durometer. In more detail, a shoe cover system employing a resilient cushioning member 115 with multiple durometer layers may be formed as described above with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6A.

Next, the preformed cushioning member 115 including sandwiched layers 115A and 115B is applied to adhesive layer 220 as shown in FIG. 8A. The shoe cover/cushioning member assembly of FIG. 8A is removed from mandrel 300. At this point, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is still inside-out. The shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is now turned right-side-out so that shoe cover system 100″ is ready for use. The user may then insert his or her shoe into shoe cover system 100″ as indicated in FIG. 8B.

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show the fabrication of a shoe cover system 100″' that employs both the multiple layer, multiple durometer cushioning member feature and the anti-trip adhesive/release liner feature discussed above. In this embodiment, fabrication is performed as before as indicated in the discussion of FIGS. 3, 4, 6A and 8A. After application of the multiple durometer layer cushioning member 115′ to adhesive layer 220 as seen in FIG. 8A, the same adhesive layer 705 and release liner 710 used with reference to FIG. 7A is applied to resilient cushioning member 115′, as shown in FIG. 9A. The resultant shoe cover system is removed from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out to form the shoe cover system 100′″ of FIG. 9B which is now ready for use. Before using shoe cover system 100′″, the user removes release liner 710 to expose the adhesive layer 705 below. The user inserts his or her foot into the shoe cover system 100′″ so the bottom of the user's shoe 110 is engaged by and adheres to adhesive layer 705, as shown in FIG. 9C.

In an alternative to the anti-trip feature provided by adhesive layer 705 in FIGS. 9A-9C, the sticky nature of gel layer 115A may itself be employed to provide an anti-trip feature to the of FIG. 8A and 8B. Layer 115A is provided with gel that is configured to provide sufficient stickiness for the gel to adhere to the bottom of the user's shoe during use and yet still be removable when the user is done using the shoe cover system. In one embodiment, gel layer 115A is configured such that some areas of gel layer 115A are more sticky than other areas. For example, the heel and toe area of gel layer 115A may be made to be more sticky than other areas of gel layer 115A by applying a light talc to areas of the gel layer 115A other than the heal and toe areas. In one embodiment, a release layer may be applied to gel layer 115A. In a manner similar to shoe cover system 100′″ of FIG. 9A-9C, the user removes the release liner when the user is ready to use the shoe cover system.

FIG. 10A depicts an alternative method for attaching resilient cushioning member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 by applying stitching 1005 around the periphery of resilient cushioning member 115 as seen in FIG. 10B. Mandrel 300 may be employed as shown in FIG. 10A to hold the inside-out shoe cover in position prior to stitching. FIG. 10B shows a bottom view of the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly so that the stitching 1005 in resilient cushioning member 115 around the peripheral edge of the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 may be more easily seen. The stitching 1005 goes through cushioning member 115 and the flexible fabric that forms the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 to hold cushioning member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. As seen in FIG. 10B, the stitching 1005 extends along the periphery of resilient cushioning member 115, namely along toe end 115Q, first side 115-S, heel end 115-R and second side 115-T. After completion of stitching, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is removed from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out to ready the shoe cover system for use by the user. This attachment mechanism of non-removably attaching cushion member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 via stitching is a direct attachment method. In one embodiment, shoe cover 105 may be fabricated from waterproof material. To preserve the waterproof feature of the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly, the stitching 1005 shown in FIG. 10B may be covered with a waterproof sealant.

In yet another embodiment, the shoe cover system may be reversible. For example, the user may insert his or her foot into the shoe cover system and use the system while the resilient cushioning member 115 is still exterior to the shoe cover system such as in FIG. 5D. Alternatively, the user may turn the shoe cover system right-side out and use the shoe cover system as shown in FIG. 5F.

The embodiments described above are representative of the many embodiments that are possible and still within the spirit and scope of the invention. Many variations and modifications are possible. For example, instead of the elastic band 125 holding the shoe cover system to the user's foot as shown in FIG. 1, the shoe cover system may employ a shoe lacing arrangement and/or a hook and loop fastener arrangement to tighten the fit of the shoe cover 105 over the user's shoe. In this manner, the shoe cover may be more firmly held in contact with the user's shoe.

In the above described embodiments, the order of assembly of the various components and layers is intended to be exemplary. However, it should be noted that the described components and layers may be assembled in a different order than described depending on the particular application. Moreover, the components, parts and layers of the disclosed shoe cover system are not drawn to scale. The size of some components and layers may be enlarged in the drawings for easier viewing. For example, the thickness of the various layers illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 9A, as well as other embodiments, may be substantially thinner than shown.

In one embodiment, the disclosed shoe cover system may be a one-use, disposable system. Such a shoe cover system is especially useful in hospital settings where avoiding contamination is very important. In this environment, the shoe cover system may employ a shoe cover fabric that is resistant to being penetrated by “sharps”, i.e. needles and other sharp instruments such as scalpels and knives. Materials that are acceptable for this application include an ultra-tight weave aramid fiber material, a thick PVC layer material, and a semi-rigid plastic liner material The disclosed shoe cover system is also useful in the clean-room environment to prevent contamination.

In yet another embodiment, an electro-static discharge (ESD) material may be used to fabricate shoe cover 105 so that the user of the shoe cover system is less likely to build up static charge that could damage delicate electronic equipment that the user may touch.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe cover system, comprising: a flexible shoe cover exhibiting a first geometry suitable to substantially surround a shoe; and a resilient cushioning member situated inside the shoe cover and exhibiting a second geometry suitable to contact and support a bottom of the shoe, the resilient cushioning member being non-removably attached to the interior of the flexible shoe cover.
 2. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient cushioning member is molded to an interior bottom of the shoe cover to attach the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
 3. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient cushioning member is flame bonded to an interior bottom of the shoe cover to attach the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
 4. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient cushioning member is adhesively attached to an interior bottom of the shoe cover to hold the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
 5. The shoe cover system of claim 1, further comprising stitching that attaches the resilient cushioning member to an interior bottom of the shoe cover.
 6. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient cushioning comprises first and second layer that exhibit first and second durometers, respectively.
 7. The shoe cover system of claim 6, wherein the first layer comprises gel and the second layer comprises foam.
 8. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the shoe cover includes an upper portion that provides an aperture for receiving the foot of a user therethrough, the upper portion including an elastic portion that forms a ring around the aperture to hold the upper portion to a leg of a user.
 9. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient cushioning member includes an upper surface that is covered with a layer of adhesive with a release liner thereon, to hold the shoe bottom to the resilient cushioning member when the release liner is removed from the layer of adhesive and the shoe bottom contacts the layer of adhesive.
 10. The shoe cover system of claim 9, wherein the layer of adhesive includes a heel portion and a toe portion that exhibit higher stickiness than a remaining portion between the heel portion and the toes portion.
 11. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe cover comprises a stretch fabric.
 12. The shoe cover system of claim 11, wherein the stretch fabric is a two-way stretch fabric.
 13. The shoe cover system of claim 11, wherein the stretch fabric is a four-way stretch fabric.
 14. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe cover comprises a puncture resistant fabric.
 15. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe cover comprises an electrostatic discharge (ESD) fabric. 